This
should be required reading in every school and college in our country.
This
Captain, an Army doctor, deserves a medal himself for putting this together.
If
you choose not to pass it on, fine, but I think you will want to, after you read
it.
I am
a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military
Level One-Trauma Centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian
emergencies as well as military personnel. San Antonio has the largest military
retiree population in the world living here. As a military doctor, I work long
hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long
hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human
suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean
more pay, only more work. Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle
crash.
Often
it is a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large
military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient. Even with my
enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama, I have caught myself
groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one
of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not
stopped to think of what citizens of this age group
represented.
I saw
'Saving Private Ryan.' I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage, but by
the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the elderly
survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a good man. I realized
that I had seen these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept. and
had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did
for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that
conflict are priceless.
Situation
permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences. They would
never bring up the subject without my inquiry. I have been privileged to hear an
amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an
Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have revealed the incredible
individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their
last admission to the hospital.
There
was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to
start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness
and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a
'hard stick.' As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed
across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She
simply said, ' Auschwitz .' Many of later generations would have loudly and
openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the
response from this person who'd seen unspeakable
suffering.
Also,
there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from
his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an
octogenarian, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his home where he
lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by
the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he
asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his
ambulance had brought him without his wallet. He asked if he could use the phone
to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great
pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the
least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it
ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and
I couldn't drive him myself.
I was
there the night M/Sgt Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the
last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I
walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick, he
didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and
wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.
The
gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders,
the
survivor of the Bataan Death March,
the
survivor of Omaha Beach ,
the
101 year old World War I veteran.
The
former POW held in frozen North Korea
The
former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver
cancer
the
former Viet Nam Corps Commander..
I may
still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of
what an honor it is to serve these particular men and
women.
I
have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've
sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to
be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such
sacrifice.
It
has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics
aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept.
Their response to these particular citizens has made me think that perhaps all
is not lost in the next generation.
My
experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible
generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government
and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should all remember
that we must 'Earn this.'
Written
By CAPT. Steven R. Ellison, M.D. US Army
If it
weren't for the United States Military, there'd be 'NO' United States of
America !
Steven
Ellison, MD
A
MILITARY DOCTOR
And
now as you have finished reading this, our Congress that enjoys their
free
medical
care are in the process of charging these people for their medical care and at
the same time possibly reducing their retirement pay. A typical political
"Thank
you."
This should be required reading in every school and college in our country. This
Captain, an Army doctor, deserves a medal himself for putting this together. If
you choose not to pass it on, fine, but I think you will want
to.
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